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Ministry of Fisheries uses Korean vessel to upskill officers

Wednesday 11 May 2011, 5:10PM

By Southern Storm Fishing Ltd

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DUNEDIN

Four officers from the Ministry of Fisheries have spent the last few days on board the FV Oyang 75 in Dunedin up-skilling to be more effective managers of New Zealand’s world-class quota management system.

The Oyang 75 is a Korean vessel chartered by Christchurch company Southern Storm Fishing and was brought to New Zealand to replace the Oyang 70, which sank off the coast of the South Island in August last year. Six crew members died in the accident.

The Oyang 75 is a modern, 68-metre stern trawler of Spanish design and construction, and has been berthed in Dunedin as it readies for its next fishing trip.

Southern Storm Fishing’s vessel manager Russell Barron said the Ministry of Fisheries was able to take advantage of the Oyang 75’s port call to train four fisheries officers (two from Wellington, one from Invercargill and a Dunedin-based officer) in a variety of tasks, including fish assessment, packaging assessment, weighing and recording of fish samples and other reporting requirements expected of a government fisheries officer.

The Oyang 75 was chosen by the Ministry because it was appropriate for such training. Mr Barron said Southern Storm Fishing was happy that it could assist the Ministry in improving the skills of fisheries officers.

“There is a false perception that foreign charter vessels operating in New Zealand’s deep-sea fishery are cloak and dagger and do not adhere to maritime safety, fisheries management or employment legislation, but in Southern Storm’s case that could not be further from the truth,” he said.

Southern Storm Fishing invited news media on board the Oyang 75 today to obtain a first-hand view of the working and living conditions of the crew. All crew aboard Southern Storm Fishing’s vessels are paid more than the New Zealand minimum wage and also receive cash advances and other payments while on board the vessels. In addition, the company complies with the New Zealand Code of Practice on Foreign Fishing Crew.

The Oyang 75 leaves tomorrow for a 35 day trip, fishing for squid in the sub-Antarctic waters in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone. A Ministry of Fisheries observer is also accompanying the crew on this trip.

Foreign Charter Vessels (or FCVs) are a common addition to almost all New Zealand fishing companies. There are 19 foreign vessels operating in New Zealand presently.